Metal door frames

ABSTRACT

A metal door frame having two vertical jamb members and an overhead cross-member is improved by providing means to reduce or eliminate door jamb vibration and looseness, and by providing an improved dustbox and strike plate assembly which is easier to install than conventional dustbox and strike plate assemblies and is not as subject as prior constructions to looseness and yet is fully adjustable.

United States Patent Jellinek [45] Apr. 11, 1972 [54] METAL DOOR FRAMES2,925,894 2/1960 Lee, Jr. et al. ..49/504 x 3,265,427 8/1966 Williams..49/504 X [72] Frank Jeumek 3mm", 2,660,272 11/1953 Walterman et al...49/504 [73] Assignee: Jellco Mfg. Co., Bismarck, Mo.

Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey [22] Flled: 1970 Att0rneyCharles B.Haverstock 21 A LN 86 746 1 pp 57 ABSTRACT 52 us. 01 ..49/504 52/213 Ametal frame having vemcaliamb members and 51 1111.0 ..E66b 1/04 aheadems-member is imPm"ed by Pmviding means 58 1 Field S 49/504 52/213reduce or eliminate door jamb vibration and looseness, and by providingan improved dustbox and strike plate assembly 56] References Cited whichis easier to install than conventional dustbox and strike plateassemblies and is not as subject as prior constructions to UNITED STATESTS looseness and yet is fully adjustable.

3,385,004 5/1968 Oehler et al. ..49/504 10 Claims, 9 Drawing FiguresPATENTEDAPR 1 I I972 FIGS TAO 0072 5mm PATENTEDAPR 1 1 I972 SHEET 2 [IF2 METAL DOOR FRAMES This invention relates generally to a metal doorframe assembly and more particularly to improvements therein whichsimplify the construction, reduce the number of parts required, simplifythe installation, and prevent vibration and looseness in the variousportions thereof.

The subject metal door frame assembly includes two vertical member orjambs for mounting on opposite sides of a door opening and an overheadcross-member which extends across the top of the opening to complete theframe construction. The two jamb members are mitered at their upper endsand the cross-member is mitered at both ends so that the members meet insuch a way as to provide a continuous finished appearing framestructure. The door for the opening is hingedly attached to one side ofthe opening by hinges that are positioned in recessed portions formed inone of the vertical frame members. The hinges are attached by screws orother fasteners which extend through holes provided therefor in therecesses portions. These recessed portions but against the adjacentstudding leaving the non-recessed portions of the vertical member spaceda distance from the studding an amount equal to the depth of therecessed portions. This space in known constructions has enabledundesirable looseness and vibration to develop particularly at the upperpart of the frame. Various means such as pads glued to the jamb member,separate firring strips, threaded pressure members, and resilient springmembers have been used heretofore to take up and to occupy this spaceand to prevent looseness and vibration from developing. All such meansare expensive and time consuming to make and install and for these andother reasons have complicated the known structures and increased theircost.

The subject frame assembly also includes improved means for anchoringthe lower ends of the vertical frame members or jambs to the studding toprevent looseness an vibration thereat. In the past, the lower ends ofthe jamb members have been attached to the adjacent studding by U-shapedmembers, the leg portions of which extend from opposite sides of themetal jamb members and embrace and engage the opposite sides of thestudding. The leg portions of the U-shaped members have holes throughwhich nails or screws are driven for attaching them to the studs afterthe jambs are located in plumb positions. In the past, the U-shapedmembers used for this purpose have been attached to the jambs either byspot welding them thereto or in such a way that they have been able tomove or creep relative to the jambs and because of this the jambs havebeen able to develop undesirable looseness. Also, when they are weldedin place some damage to the finish of the jambs has occurred, and if thewelding is done at the factory, portions of the U-shaped members projectfrom the associated jambs creating problems in handling, finishing,packaging and shipping the jamb members. The present constructionincludes improved means for attaching the U-shaped members to the jambswhich require no welding and which at the same time prevent movement orcreeping of the U-shaped members relative to the jambs on which they areinstalled thereby preventing looseness from developing and overcomingthe principal disadvantages of the prior art constructions.

Still another improvement of the present structure is in the novelconstruction of the dustbox and strike plate assembly which is installedon one of the vertical frame members in position to cooperate with thelatch bolt on the door. It has been the practice in the past toconstruct the dustbox and strike plate assembly of a plurality of partswhich are assembled and attached together and to the door frame or jambby threaded fastener members. The known assemblies have also includedseparate members for the strike plate, the dustbox members, and separatethreaded and other means for mounting and adjusting them. Suchmultipiece constructions are difficult, expensive and time consuming tomanufacture, install and adjust, and they have a high potential fordeveloping looseness and require frequent and often time consumingadjustment. These and other disadvantages are overcome by the presentrelatively simple, one piece dustbox-strike plate assembly which can beeasily and quickly installed without requiring any tools and can beadjusted simply and quickly even by persons having little or no specialskill.

The present improved door frame construction therefore overcomes many ofthe principal disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior artconstructions and results in a construction that is relatively resistantto looseness and vibration, relatively simple and economical to make,simple to install, and is easily and quickly adjustable.

A principal object of the present invention therefore is to provide animproved metal door frame assembly which is relatively inexpensive toconstruct, assemble, package and install and which greatly reduces oreliminates undesirable jamb looseness and vibration when in service.

Another object is to simplify the manufacture of the pans used in metaldoor frame assemblies.

Another object is to substantially reduce the number of parts requiredin metal door frames and the like.

Another object is to provide a metal door frame assembly which can beassembled and installed even by persons having relatively little skilland training and using the simplest of tools.

Another object is to provide improved means for securing the necessaryparts to metal door frame members.

Another object is to provide an improved one-piece dustbox and strikeplate assembly including improved means for installing the same on ametal door jamb member.

Still another object is to provide a dustbox or latch receptacle formedin part from parts of the door jamb member on which it is installed.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent afterconsidering the following detailed description of preferred embodimentsof the subject improvements in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a metal door frame embodying the presentimprovements, said view showing portions of the frame in dotted outlineto illustrate how the frame is installed in an opening therefor;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 33ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

F Ig. 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the details ofthe strike plate and dustbox assembly, and of the adjacent portion ofthe vertical jamb on which the assembly is mounted;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7; and,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view partly in section showing more of thedetails of the means used to anchor the lower ends of the vertical jambmembers.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numbers, number10 refers to a metal door frame assembly formed by two spaced verticaljambs 11 and 12 located on opposite sides of a door opening 13, and anoverhead crossmember 14 which extends across the top of the opening 13between the upper ends 15 and 16, respectively, of the jambs l l and 12to complete the frame assembly.

The jambs 11 and 12 as well as the overhead cross-member 14 are allsimilar in cross-sectional size and shape over most of their lengths.Each of the members 11, 12 and 14 are formed of sheet metal such assheet steel or the like and each has two spaced web portions 18 and 20(FIG. 4) positioned on opposite sides of a central door stop portion 21which is shown as being square or rectangular in shape. The web portions18 and 20 are also shown being in the same plane and when installed theylie adjacent to but not necessarily in abutment with faces 23 of studmembers 22 which-form the rough opening 13 in which the subject frameassembly is installed. The door stop portions 21 on the members 11, 12and 14 therefore extend a predetermined distance from the webs 18 and 20into the opening 13 and in the usual way control the positions of thedoor 47 when closed.

Each of the frame members 11, 12 and 14 has similarly shaped side trimportions which are shown as including rounded portions 24 and side wallportions 26 connected thereto to define the exposed opposite surfaces ofthe frame structure 10. The side trim portions 24 extend around thecorners 27 of the rough studding 22 and are outwardly of the oppositesurfaces 280 and 28b of the studding 22. The decorative side portions 26including the portions 24 can have many different sizes and shapesdepending upon the appearance or decor that is desired. The portions 26are in turn connected to similar inwardly extending flanges 29 formed oneach opposite side of the structure. The flanges 29 are usually madewide enough to abut adjacent edge surfaces of wall board panels such aspanels of sheet rock or other wall covering material 30 to give a smoothand continuous connection between the subject frame members 11, 12 and14 and the adjacent walls. The flanges 29 are also connected to similarinner flanges 32 at right angles thereto that abut the opposite faces28a and 28b of the studding 22 and properly locate and center the framemembers thereon as shown. The inner flanges 32 are usually spaced aparta distance that is just enough to receive the stud members 22therebetween as clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, but it is alsocontemplated to reduce the distance between the flanges 32 somewhat sothat the jambs 11 and 12, which are usually somewhat resilient members,must be spread apart to some extent to receive the studding 22.

The upper ends and 16 of the two vertical jamb members 11 and 12 aremitered across their decorative side wall portions 26 including theflanges 29 and inner flanges 32, and are shown provided with V-shapedcutouts 33 (FIG. 3) which means that the web portions 18 and on the sideframes 11 and 12 extend upwardly somewhat beyond the low point of thecutouts 33. The cross-member 14 is also mitered at both of its ends 38and 39 on all portions thereof except for the stop portion 21, and theends of the stop portion 21 on the overhead member 14 are shortenedsomewhat to abut against the stop portions 21 on the vertical jambs 11and 12. The ends of the web portions on the cross-member 14 also abutthe surfaces of the respective webs 18 and 20 on the jamb members 1 land 12 to give the frame 10 a continuous structure when installed. Eachof the webs 18 and 20 on the vertical jambs 11 and 12 is also providednear its upper end with a semi-circular knockout protrusion 46 whichprotrusions engage and cooperate with the ends of the webs 18 and 20 onthe crossmembers 14 to lock the members together when installed and toprevent them from moving or shifting relative to each other.

The subject structure 10 is mounted as shown in FIG. 1 with the roughstudding 22 extending into the frame members 11, 12 and 14 between theinner flanges 32. It should be recognized also that the frame members 11and 12 are different from one another in some respects, the member 12being constructed to receive and cooperate with hinges 48 that are usedfor mounting door 47, and the member 11 being constructed to receive adustbox and striker plate assembly 49 which cooperates with the latchbolt 50 on the door 47 to hold the door 47 closed and to permit it to beopened in the usual way. Frame structures of the general type describedabove have been known and used for some time, and the present inventionrelates to certain improvements in such structures as will be described.

The door 47 which may be of a conventional construction is hingedlyattached to one side of the door opening 13 and to one of the framemembers, namely the frame member 12, by two or more hinges 48 which arepositioned in similar recessed portions 51 (FIGS. 2 and 3) formed in thejamb member 12. The hinges 48 are attached to the adjacent studding 22by screws or other fasteners which extend through holes 53 providedtherefor in the recessed portions 51. It is contemplated to provide asmany recessed portions and associated hinges as required to support thedoor. The recessed portions 51 abut against the adjacent studding 22which define the unfinished door opening 13 leaving the rest of the webportions 18 and 20 on the frame member 12 spaced from the studding 22 bythe depth of the recesses 51. The portions of the webbing 18 and 20which are spaced from the studding 22, if unsupported or unbacked bysome means, are relatively susceptible to developing looseness andvibration and this is especially true of the webbing 18 and 20 at theupper end of the frame 12.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, one of the improvements to the subject doorframe construction is obtained by forming integral outwardly extendingright angle tabs 60 on the upper ends of the two spaced web portions 18and 20 of the jamb member 12. The tabs 60 extend from the web portions18 and 20 a distance approximately equal to the depth of the recessedportions 51 so that when the member 12 is installed the tabs 60 willengage the adjacent studding 22 and provide backing support for theupper ends thereof. The tabs 60 therefore take up the spaces between theupper ends of the webbing l8 and 20 and the adjacent studding 22, andthe support or backing provided by the tabs 60 substantially reduces oreliminates the possibility of vibration and looseness developing and atthe same time provides support for the upper end of the jamb 12. It isalso contemplated in the subject construction to make the tabs 60somewhat deeper than the hinge recesses 51 so that during installationthey will be pressed or driven against and indent the adjacent studding22 and make an even more firm backing support. The tabs 60 are formed asintegral parts of the webbing l8 and 20 during fabrication of the jamb12 by a simple bending step which is relatively easy to accomplish anddoes not require that any additional parts or components be added to theconstruction. In the form of the invention shown in the drawing, similartabs are formed on the upper end of two spaced web portions 18 and 20.It is contemplated, however, in some constructions having other than thechannel shape shown to use a tab 60 only at the top of the web portion20 in which the recessed portions 51 are formed. It is also contemplatedto provide similar tabs on other portions of the subject frame members11 and 12 such as on the door stop portion 21 thereof although this isusually not necessary. If no space is formed between the upper end ofthe webbing 18 and/or 20 and the studding 22 as might be the case if thestudding were irregular or uneven for some reason, the tabs 60 cansimply be cutoff or filed down as required. It is thus apparent that bythe simple expediency of providing integral tabs 60 at the upper ends ofthe vertical frames 12 and possibly 11 as well, that vibration andlooseness can be substantially reduced or eliminated, and the structure10 when installed is more rigid and more firmly engaged with theadjacent studding. Tabs such as tabs 60 are not usually required on thejamb member 11 which is the jamb on which the strike plate and dustboxassembly 49 is installed as already indicated. This is because the jamb11 does not have any recesses such as those provided in the jamb 12 forthe hinges 48. Tabs 60 could be formed on the jamb 1 1, however, tocompensate for uneveness of the studding 22 and so forth and can beremoved if they are not needed. This gives the installer more options tomake a good and secure installation.

At the opposite or lower ends of the jamb members 11 and 12, a similarspace may also exist to the adjacent studding 22 from the jamb webbing18 and 20. Other means, as will be explained, are provided for attachingthe lower ends thereof to the studding 22 to provide rigidity and toestablish a plumb condition, and it is usually not necessary to havetabs similar to the tabs 60 at the lower ends.

The lower ends of the jambs 11 and 12 are anchored to the adjacent studs22 by means of U-shaped members 66, one of which is attached near thelower end of each of the vertical jamb members 11 and 12. The U-shapedmembers 66 include two spaced leg portions 68 and 70 (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9)and a connected cross-portion 72. The leg portions 68 and 70 extend fromopposite sides of the associated jamb members 11 and 12 and arepositioned so as to embrace and engage the opposite surfaces 280 and 28bof the studding 22 against which and around which the lower ends of thejambs 11 and 12 are positioned. Each of the leg portions 68 and 70 hasone or more holes 74 receiving nails 76, screws and other fastenerswhich are used to attach them to the studding 22.

Each of the leg portions 68 and 70 of the U-shaped members 66 also hasan integral L-shaped tab or tongue 78 formed as shown in FIGS. 79 of thedrawing. The two tabs 78 on each U-shaped member cooperate with notchesor cutouts 80 formed on the inner flanges 32 of the frame members atdesired positions usually near the lower ends thereof, and thecooperation between the tabs 78 and the notches 80 prevents the U-shapedmembers 66 from sliding or moving vertically therealong again to preventlooseness from developing when the frame is installed. In order toinstall the U-shaped members 66 on the frame members 11 and 12 it isusually necessary to bend the center or cross-portions 72 thereof tosome extend to reduce the distance between the attached ends of the legportions 68 and 70. This enables the U-shaped members 66 to bepositioned between the spaced inner flanges 32 so that thereafter thetabs 78 on the U-shaped members 66, which now have W-shapedconfigurations 81 (see dotted outline in FIG. 7), can be moved intoengagement with the cutouts or notches 80 simply by pressing on andstraightening out the cross-portions 72. This is accomplished by pushingoutwardly on the portions 72 to restore the members 66 from their W totheir U-shape. When this is done the engagement between the tabs 78 andthe cutouts 80 prevents relative sliding movement of the U-shapedmembers 66 along the associated frames on which they are installed. Itshould be noted that the U-shaped members 66 are relatively easy andquick to install and can be installed at the work site without requiringany special tools.

The main advantages obtained by the use of the subject U shaped members66 as explained is that the cooperation between the tabs 78 and thecutouts or notches 80 prevents the U-shaped members 66 from moving orcreeping relative to the frame members 11 and 12 due to settling andvibration which occurs after installation and this is highly desirableas a means to prevent looseness from developing and also to preventshifting of the frame members after installation.

Another improvement in the subject door frame assembly resides in thenovel construction of the dustbox and strike plate assembly 49 which isinstalled on vertical frame member 11 in position as aforesaid tocooperate with the latch bolt 50 located on the door 47. The assembly 49includes a dustbox 90 and a strike plate 92 and in the subjectconstruction these are formed in part by the frame member 11 and in partby a single member 93 which is mounted in an opening 94 providedtherefor in the web portion of the frame member 11. It should also benoted that a part of studding 22 directly behind the opening 94 must beremoved to provide a cavity 95 to receive the assembly 49. When mounted,the member 93 and the adjacent portions of the frame member 11 form thecomplete assembly 49 and this installation can be accomplished withoutrequiring any special fastener means such as screws or the like anwithout requiring any tools to make the installation. This is possibleas will be explained because the improved construction as shown in FIG.6 can simply be snapped into place in the opening 94.

The opening 94 in the jamb 11 is formed by cutting an H- shape openingin the webbing 20, which opening is formed by two spaced vertical cutsand one cross cut at a center location therebetween. When this is done,two tabs or flanges 96 and 98 are formed and these are bent outwardly atright angles to the webbing 20 along the upper and lower edges I00 and102 of opening 94. The flanges 96 and 98 therefore remain integral withthe jamb 11 and form the upper and lower walls of the dustbox 90. Theouter three walls of the dustbox 90 and the strike plate 92 are formedby the member 93 which is preferably of a heavier gage metal than theframes l1, l2 and 14, and is defined by opposite walls 106 and 108 and aconnecting wall therebetween (FIG. 6). The spaced walls 106 and 108 arejust far enough apart so that they can just move into the opening 94.The strike plate 92 is formed as an integral flange on the member 93 andis attached to the side edge of the wall 108 opposite from the wall 110and extends therefrom outwardly at a right angle. Another narrower rightangle flange 112 is formed on the opposite edge of the wall 106. Thestrike plate 92 and the flange 112 operate to limit and control how farthe member 93 can be pushed into the opening 94. The web 20 can also berecessed outwardly, if desired, so that the exposed surfaces of thestrike plate 92 and flange 112 will be in the plane of the web wheninstalled. When the member 93 is installed in the jamb opening 94, theopposite web flanges 96 and 98 and the walls 106, 108 and 110 cooperateto define the dustbox 90, and the strike plate 92 extends in a properdirection and is properly curved to cooperate with the latch bolt 50 onthe door 47. The integral strike plate 92 on the side of the U-shapedmember 93 and the flange 112 on the opposite side thereof not only limithow far the member 93 can be moved into the opening 94 but they alsoengage the jamb webbing 20 in surface-to-surface contact, and as will beexplained, help to lock the member 93 in its installed position.

The end edges 118 of the opposite walls 106 and 108 adjacent to thestrike plate 92 and the flange 112 are notched at 120 and are providedwith outwardly extending cam or beveled portions 122, as clearly shownin FIG. 6. Four such beveled cam portions 122 are shown on the member93. These beveled or cam portions 122 cooperate with the side edges 124ofthe web opening 94 adjacent to the corners 126 thereof when theU-shaped member 93 is pushed into the opening 94, and this cooperationcauses the walls 106 and 108 to be cammed inwardly toward each other tosome extent during installation until the cammed portions 122 have movedpast the edges 124 where they spring apart with the edges 124 movinginto the notches 120 to complete the installation. This can be done, asaforesaid, without requiring any tools or special fastener means.

The side wall 108 to which the strike plate 92 is attached is alsoprovided with an integral L-shaped tongue 130 which extends partlyacross the space formed by the dustbox 90 between the opposed walls 106and 108. The tongue 130 has its free end portion 132 extending towardsthe connecting wall 110 substantially parallel to the side walls 106 and108. The tongue 130 is engageable by the door latch member 50 when thedoor is closed and its position controls the amount of play that thelatch bolt will have. By using a screw driver or like too] it is an easymatter to bend and thereby adjust the position of the tongue 130 inorder to change the amount of the latch bolt play.

It is also anticipated to construct the upper and lower dustbox walls asintegral parts of the member 93 instead of as parts of the webbing 20.If this were done, the assembly 49 would be formed by a more closed boxshaped member and might eliminate the need for the flanges 96 and 98that are formed in the webbing 20. Such a modified construction couldstill be made to be installed without requiring special tools orfasteners and might even have more cammed portions similar to theportions 122 which cooperate with the edges of the opening formed in thewebbing 20 to lock the assembly in position.

Thus there has been shown and described a novel metal door frame havinggreater resistance to developing looseness and vibration and simplicityof dustbox and strike plate construction, which frame fulfills all ofthe objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, modificationsand variations of the subject frame, in addition to those specificallydescribed will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the artafter considering the subject specification and the accompanyingdrawing. All such changes, modifications, and variations which do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to becovered by the invention which is limited only by the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a metal door frame assembly which includes two spaced verticaljamb members for mounting on opposite faces of a rough door opening, anoverhead cross-member which extends across the top face of the openingto complete the frame construction, a door with a latch bolt on one sideand means hingedly attaching the door to one vertical jamb member on theopposite side, the said jamb members and cross-member having similarcross-sectional shapes, mating end portions which cooperate wheninstalled to form a finished door frame assembly, and web portions thatface into the opening, the improvement comprising modifying the webportion on one of the said jamb members by forming spaced outwardlyextending recessed portions for receiving the hinge means for mountingthe door in the frame assembly, said recessed web portions havingopenings therein registrable with said openings in the hinge means forreceiving fasteners used to attach the hinge means in the recessedportions to the associated face of the door opening with the saidrecessed portions abutting the associated face of the rough dooropening, said web portion except for the recessed portions thereof beingspaced from the face of the rough opening a distance determinedapproximately by the depth of the recessed portions, and means includingan outwardly extending projection formed integrally adjacent to one endof said one web portion, said projection being formed at an angleextending outwardly from the web portion a distance sufficient to engagethe face of the rough opening when the recessed portions are engagedtherewith to provide support for the web portion against the openingface at the said one end thereof.

2. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 1 an opening formedin the web portion of the jamb member opposite from the jamb memberhaving the recessed portions, said web opening being located at a heightto cooperate with the latch bolt on the door, and means positioned insaid web opening forming a dustbox and a latch bolt strike plateassembly, said assembly being formed of a single member positioned inthe said web opening, said single member having spaced opposed walls, awall connected between corresponding side edges of said spaced opposedwalls, and a flange formed on each of the side edges of said spacedopposed walls opposite from said connecting wall, one of said flangesforming the strike plate portion of the assembly, and other means onsaid spaced opposed walls for cooperating with the said opposite jambweb portion adjacent to the opening therein to lock the assembly inposition in said opening.

3. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 2 wherein the roughdoor opening is formed of wooden studding members, the furtherimprovement of means for attaching and anchoring the lower ends of thejamb members to the wooden studding members, said means including aU-shaped member attached to each of said vertical jamb members, saidU-shaped members having spaced leg portions that extend outwardly fromthe jamb members for engaging opposite sides of the studding members,each of said leg portions having holes for receiving means to fasten theU-shaped members to the studding and each of said U-shaped membershaving a crossportion which extends between and connects correspondingends of the leg portions, and other means on the leg portions of saidU-shaped members and on the respective jamb members for cooperativelyengaging each other to retain the U- shaped members on the jamb membersand to prevent relative movement therebetween.

4. In a metal door frame assembly which includes two spaced verticaljamb members for mounting on opposite faces of a rough door opening, anoverhead cross-member which extends across the top of the opening tocomplete the frame construction, a door including a latch bolt and meanshingedly attaching the door to one of said vertical jamb members, eachof the jamb and cross-members having similar cross-sectional shapes,mating end portions which cooperate to form a finished door frameassembly, and web portions that face into the opening, the improvementcomprising an opening formed in the web portion of the jamb memberopposite from the jamb member to which the door is hingedly attached,said jamb opening being located at a height to cooperate with the latchbolt on the door, and means positioned in said opening forming acombined dustbox and latch bolt strike plate assembly, said assemblybeing formed of a single member positioned in the said web opening, saidsingle member having spaced opposed walls, another wall connectedbetween corresponding side edges of said spaced opposed walls and aflange formed on the side edges of each of said spaced opposed wallsopposite from said other connecting wall, one of said flanges formingthe strike plate portion of the assembly, and means formed on saidspaced opposed side walls for cooperating with the opposite web portionadjacent to the opening therein to lock the assembly in position in saidopenmg.

5. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 4, said meansformed on said spaced opposed walls for cooperating with the other webportion include cam means formed on at least one edge of each of saidspaced opposed walls, and notches formed adjacent to said cam means andadjacent to the said associated flanges formed thereon.

6. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 4 including spacedflange portions formed integral with said opposite web portion, saidspaced web flanges being attached to the said opposite web portion atopposite ends of the opening formed therein and extending outwardly fromthe said opposite web portion to form opposite side walls for thedustbox when the dustbox and strike plate assembly is installed in saidopening.

7. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 4 the one of saidopposed walls of said assembly attached to the strike plate formingflange includes an integral tab for cooperating with the latch bolt whenthe door is closed,

8, In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 4 wherein the roughdoor opening is formed of wooden studdin g members, the furtherimprovement of means for attaching the lower ends of the jamb members tothe wooden studding members, said means including a U-shaped memberattached to at least one of said vertical jamb members adjacent to thelower end thereof, said U-shaped member having spaced leg portions thatextend outwardly from the jamb member for engagement with opposite sidesof the studding member adjacent thereto, each of said leg portionshaving holes for receiving nails used to fasten the U-shaped member tothe studding, said U-shaped member also having a cross-portion whichextends between and connects corresponding ends of the leg portions, andcooperative means on the leg portions of said U-shaped member and on thesaid one jamb member to retain the U-shaped member engaged therewith andto prevent relative movement therebetween.

9. In a metal door frame assembly which includes two spaced verticaljamb members for mounting on opposite faces of a rough door openingformed of wooden studding, an overhead cross-member which extends acrossthe top of the opening to complete the frame assembly, a door and meanshingedly attaching the door to one of said vertical jamb members, and tothe adjacent studding, the jamb and cross-members having similarcross-sectional shapes with mating end portions which cooperate wheninstalled to form a finished door frame assembly, and each of said jamband cross-members having a web portion that faces into the opening, theimprovement comprising means for attaching and anchoring the lower endof each of said jamb members to the wooden studding, said meansincluding a U-shaped member associated with each of said vertical jambmembers having spaced leg portions that extend outwardly from the saidassociated jamb members for engagement with opposite wall surfacesaround the rough door opening, each of said leg portions having holesfor receiving means to fasten the U-shaped member to the studding, eachof said U-shaped members having a cross-portion which extends betweenand connects corresponding ends of the leg portions, an integraloutwardly extending L-shaped tongue formed on each of the leg portionsof said U-shaped members, and a notch formed in the edge of each of saidjamb members in position to be cooperatively engageable with anassociated one of the L-shaped tongues to retain the U-shaped member onthe jamb member and to prevent relative movement therebetween.

10. In a metal door frame assembly which includes two spaced verticaljamb members for mounting on opposite faces of a rough door openingformed of wooden studding, an overhead cross-member which extends acrossthe top of the opening to complete the frame assembly, a door and meanshingedly attaching the door to one of said vertical jamb members and tothe adjacent studding, the jamb and cross-members having similarcross-sectional shapes with mating end portions which cooperate wheninstalled to form a finished door frame assembly, and each of said jamband cross-members having a web portion that faces into the opening, theimprovement comprising means for attaching and anchoring the lower endof each of said jamb members to the wooden studding, said meansincluding a U-shaped member having spaced leg portions that extendoutwardly from the said jamb member for engagement with opposite wallsurfaces around the opening, each of said leg portions having holes forreceiving means to fasten the U-shaped members to the studding, eachU-shaped member having a cross-portion which extends between andconnects corresponding ends of the leg portions, and means formed oneach of the leg portions of said U-shaped member cooperativelyengageable with means formed on the associated jamb member adjacent tothe lower end thereof to retain the U-shaped member on the jamb memberand to prevent relative movement therebetween, the web portion on one ofsaid jamb members having spaced outwardly extending recessed portionsfor receiving the hinge means for mounting the door in the frameassembly, said recessed portions having openings registrable withopenings in the hinge means for receiving fasteners used to attach thehinge means to the associated face of the opening with the said recessedweb portions abutting the associated opening face, said web except forthe recessed portions thereof being spaced from the face of the openinga distance determined approximately by the depth of the said recessedportions, and means including at least one integral projection formedextending outwardly from adjacent to one end of the web a distancesufficient to engage the face of the opening when the recessed webportions are engaged therewith to support the web portion against theopening face at the said one end thereof.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTlFlCATE OF CORRECilON Patent NO.3,654,731 Dated April 11, 1972 Inventor(s) I Frank ink It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 17, "recesses" should be "recessed"; line 18, "but"should be "butt"; line 33 "an" should be "and".

Column 2, line 46, "Fig. should be "FIG Column 3, line 50, "members"(first occurrence) should be "member".

Column 5, line 5, after "74" insert "for"; line 19, "tend" should be"tent"; line 58, "an" should be "and"; line 70, "outer" should be"other'H.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of August 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK EDWARD MQFLETCHERJR.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer FORM PC4050 (TO-69) USCOMM-DC60376-P69 LLS. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-335

1. In a metal door frame assembly which includes two spaced verticaljamb members for mounting on opposite faces of a rough door opening, anoverhead cross-member which extends across the top face of the openingto complete the frame construction, a door with a latch bolt on one sideand means hingedly attaching the door to one vertical jamb member on theopposite side, the said jamb members and cross-member having similarcross-sectional shapes, mating end portions which cooperate wheninstalled to form a finished door frame assembly, and web portions thatface into the opening, the improvement comprising modifying the webportion on one of the said jamb members by forming spaced outwardlyextending recessed portions for receiving the hinge means for mountingthe door in the frame assembly, said recessed web portions havingopenings therein registrable with said openings in the hinge means forreceiving fasteners used to attach the hinge means in the recessedportions to the associated face of the door opening with the saidrecessed portions abutting the associated face of the rough dooropening, said web portion except for the recessed portions thereof beingspaced from the face of the rough opening a distance determinedapproximately by the depth of the recessed portions, and means includingan outwardly extending projection formed integrally adjacent to one endof said one web portion, said projection being formed at an angleextending outwardly from the web portion a distance sufficient to engagethe face of the rough opening when the recessed portions are engagedtherewith to provide support for the web portion against the openingface at the said one end thereof.
 2. In the metal door frame assemblydefined in claiM 1 an opening formed in the web portion of the jambmember opposite from the jamb member having the recessed portions, saidweb opening being located at a height to cooperate with the latch bolton the door, and means positioned in said web opening forming a dustboxand a latch bolt strike plate assembly, said assembly being formed of asingle member positioned in the said web opening, said single memberhaving spaced opposed walls, a wall connected between corresponding sideedges of said spaced opposed walls, and a flange formed on each of theside edges of said spaced opposed walls opposite from said connectingwall, one of said flanges forming the strike plate portion of theassembly, and other means on said spaced opposed walls for cooperatingwith the said opposite jamb web portion adjacent to the opening thereinto lock the assembly in position in said opening.
 3. In the metal doorframe assembly defined in claim 2 wherein the rough door opening isformed of wooden studding members, the further improvement of means forattaching and anchoring the lower ends of the jamb members to the woodenstudding members, said means including a U-shaped member attached toeach of said vertical jamb members, said U-shaped members having spacedleg portions that extend outwardly from the jamb members for engagingopposite sides of the studding members, each of said leg portions havingholes for receiving means to fasten the U-shaped members to the studdingand each of said U-shaped members having a cross-portion which extendsbetween and connects corresponding ends of the leg portions, and othermeans on the leg portions of said U-shaped members and on the respectivejamb members for cooperatively engaging each other to retain theU-shaped members on the jamb members and to prevent relative movementtherebetween.
 4. In a metal door frame assembly which includes twospaced vertical jamb members for mounting on opposite faces of a roughdoor opening, an overhead cross-member which extends across the top ofthe opening to complete the frame construction, a door including a latchbolt and means hingedly attaching the door to one of said vertical jambmembers, each of the jamb and cross-members having similarcross-sectional shapes, mating end portions which cooperate to form afinished door frame assembly, and web portions that face into theopening, the improvement comprising an opening formed in the web portionof the jamb member opposite from the jamb member to which the door ishingedly attached, said jamb opening being located at a height tocooperate with the latch bolt on the door, and means positioned in saidopening forming a combined dustbox and latch bolt strike plate assembly,said assembly being formed of a single member positioned in the said webopening, said single member having spaced opposed walls, another wallconnected between corresponding side edges of said spaced opposed wallsand a flange formed on the side edges of each of said spaced opposedwalls opposite from said other connecting wall, one of said flangesforming the strike plate portion of the assembly, and means formed onsaid spaced opposed side walls for cooperating with the opposite webportion adjacent to the opening therein to lock the assembly in positionin said opening.
 5. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 4,said means formed on said spaced opposed walls for cooperating with theother web portion include cam means formed on at least one edge of eachof said spaced opposed walls, and notches formed adjacent to said cammeans and adjacent to the said associated flanges formed thereon.
 6. Inthe metal door frame assembly defined in claim 4 including spaced flangeportions formed integral with said opposite web portion, said spaced webflanges being attached to the said opposite web portion at opposite endsof the opening formed therein and extending outwardly from the saidopposite web portion to form opposite side walls for the dustbox whenthe dustbox and strIke plate assembly is installed in said opening. 7.In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim 4 the one of saidopposed walls of said assembly attached to the strike plate formingflange includes an integral tab for cooperating with the latch bolt whenthe door is closed.
 8. In the metal door frame assembly defined in claim4 wherein the rough door opening is formed of wooden studding members,the further improvement of means for attaching the lower ends of thejamb members to the wooden studding members, said means including aU-shaped member attached to at least one of said vertical jamb membersadjacent to the lower end thereof, said U-shaped member having spacedleg portions that extend outwardly from the jamb member for engagementwith opposite sides of the studding member adjacent thereto, each ofsaid leg portions having holes for receiving nails used to fasten theU-shaped member to the studding, said U-shaped member also having across-portion which extends between and connects corresponding ends ofthe leg portions, and cooperative means on the leg portions of saidU-shaped member and on the said one jamb member to retain the U-shapedmember engaged therewith and to prevent relative movement therebetween.9. In a metal door frame assembly which includes two spaced verticaljamb members for mounting on opposite faces of a rough door openingformed of wooden studding, an overhead cross-member which extends acrossthe top of the opening to complete the frame assembly, a door and meanshingedly attaching the door to one of said vertical jamb members, and tothe adjacent studding, the jamb and cross-members having similarcross-sectional shapes with mating end portions which cooperate wheninstalled to form a finished door frame assembly, and each of said jamband cross-members having a web portion that faces into the opening, theimprovement comprising means for attaching and anchoring the lower endof each of said jamb members to the wooden studding, said meansincluding a U-shaped member associated with each of said vertical jambmembers having spaced leg portions that extend outwardly from the saidassociated jamb members for engagement with opposite wall surfacesaround the rough door opening, each of said leg portions having holesfor receiving means to fasten the U-shaped member to the studding, eachof said U-shaped members having a cross-portion which extends betweenand connects corresponding ends of the leg portions, an integraloutwardly extending L-shaped tongue formed on each of the leg portionsof said U-shaped members, and a notch formed in the edge of each of saidjamb members in position to be cooperatively engageable with anassociated one of the L-shaped tongues to retain the U-shaped member onthe jamb member and to prevent relative movement therebetween.
 10. In ametal door frame assembly which includes two spaced vertical jambmembers for mounting on opposite faces of a rough door opening formed ofwooden studding, an overhead cross-member which extends across the topof the opening to complete the frame assembly, a door and means hingedlyattaching the door to one of said vertical jamb members and to theadjacent studding, the jamb and cross-members having similarcross-sectional shapes with mating end portions which cooperate wheninstalled to form a finished door frame assembly, and each of said jamband cross-members having a web portion that faces into the opening, theimprovement comprising means for attaching and anchoring the lower endof each of said jamb members to the wooden studding, said meansincluding a U-shaped member having spaced leg portions that extendoutwardly from the said jamb member for engagement with opposite wallsurfaces around the opening, each of said leg portions having holes forreceiving means to fasten the U-shaped members to the studding, eachU-shaped member having a cross-portion which extends between andconnects corresponding ends of the leg portions, and means formed oneach of the leg portions of said U-shaped member cooperativelyengageable with means formed on the associated jamb member adjacent tothe lower end thereof to retain the U-shaped member on the jamb memberand to prevent relative movement therebetween, the web portion on one ofsaid jamb members having spaced outwardly extending recessed portionsfor receiving the hinge means for mounting the door in the frameassembly, said recessed portions having openings registrable withopenings in the hinge means for receiving fasteners used to attach thehinge means to the associated face of the opening with the said recessedweb portions abutting the associated opening face, said web except forthe recessed portions thereof being spaced from the face of the openinga distance determined approximately by the depth of the said recessedportions, and means including at least one integral projection formedextending outwardly from adjacent to one end of the web a distancesufficient to engage the face of the opening when the recessed webportions are engaged therewith to support the web portion against theopening face at the said one end thereof.